Edinburgh City ‘Streets Ahead’ Road Safety Group which includes Transport for Edinburgh, Police Scotland, The City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and Lothian & Borders Fire Services are holding road safety events in this month.

Two Drive Safe / Cycle Safe awareness days will focus on cyclist safety around large vehicles. They will be hosted by Heriot Watt University, Riccarton Campus on 15 March and Edinburgh University, Potterrow, Crichton Street on 24 March between 1130 – 1400.

Lothian Buses will have a bus at both events, encouraging cyclists to sit in the drivers seat, giving them the chance to see for themselves the difficulties faced by bus drivers when a bicycle approaches from behind or on the nearside.  A driver and manager from the company will be there throughout to discuss the role the cyclist can play in keeping themselves safe.

For cyclist attending, there will be Lothian Buses hi-vis vests and other safety products including cycle light kits, free security marking/registration and hi-vis wrist snaps.

Walter Herring – Head of Operational Risk commented:

Cycle use in Edinburgh is increasing all the time and this will doubtless continue. It is a great credit to the professionalism of our drivers and the actions of cyclists that incidents involving Lothian Buses and cyclists are very rare. We are however keen to do all we can to ensure that this continues. Our fleet may be among the best and safest in the UK, but like any large vehicle “blind spots” do exist and constant distractions faced by bus drivers do mean that they cannot always immediately see a cyclist approaching from the rear or near side.

Whilst it is relatively easy to engage with our own drivers through training and awareness activity, something we will continually do; these events provide us with an invaluable opportunity to engage direct with the cyclists of Edinburgh on road safety and I would encourage as many as possible to come along to the events, take a look, meet us and share ideas.

For more cycle safety advice, please take a couple of minutes to watch Lothian Buses ‘See and Be Seen’ video.